5Jupinderjit Singh,Tribune News Service,Chandigarh, January 9

Allegedly attacked by militants in the wee hours of January 1, curiously the nature of injury on  deceased taxi driver Ikaagar Singh’s neck and that of the injured jeweller Rajesh Verma is very different. Both were allegedly assaulted by a sharp-edged weapon.Doctors who conducted the  medico-legal examination say Ikaagar’s throat may have been slit by a professional killer. But the same could not be said about the jeweller, who survived the attack.Officials wonder if Ikaagar and Rajesh were attacked by different terrorists who formed part of the group that let off Salwinder Singh, SP, or by different groups of militants. Doctors and police officials say Ikaagar’s injuries show he may have put up a resistance against the attackers. But in case of Rajesh, there are no such signs.  Ikaagar’s body had stab wounds in the chest and the stomach.Investigators are yet to declare Ikaagar clean as a phone call from Pakistan was received on his phone. But Satnam Singh, the deceased’s brother, says his brother scuffled with the militants and that is enough proof of his innocence. “My brother fought the terrorists. He tried to overturn the car to stop the terrorists from reaching their target. That is why the Chief Minister has acknowledged his sacrifice. On the other hand, a trained police officer with years of experience could not do anything,” he remarked.While Ikaagar’s body was found near Kathlore bridge on way to Pathankot from Kohlian village chowk, his Innova car was found abandoned 2 km from Kohlian village town towards Pakistan. Two tyres of the car were deflated.Ikaagar lived in an impressive house in Bhagwal village. He had bought a second-hand Mahindra Scorpio worth Rs 3 lakh two weeks ago for which he took a loan.The police are trying to ascertain if Ikaagar had any other source of income as his life style was opulent. “On the one hand they declare him a martyr and on the other, they have doubts about him. Why would he have struggled with the terrorists if he was hand in glove with them? Why did terrorists kill him and not the SP,” asked Ikagaar’s brother.The Punjab government has declared Ikaagar a martyr even though the investigations are yet to be completed. The family has been paid a compensation of Rs 5 lakh and the government has promised a job for his sister or wife.The narrow street to his house is being paved again. It would be a huge embarrassment for the government if found that Ikagaar had ties with anti-social elements.